Drinking water to help weight control in older adults
Water Intake and Weight Control in Older Adults
This trial compares drinking 500 ml before meals, drinking 1.5 L spread across the day, or no water instructions to see which approach helps adults 50+ with overweight lose more weight on a reduced-calorie diet.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Blacksburg, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11293429 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to one of three diet plans: drink 500 ml before each main meal, drink 1.5 liters spread across the day, or follow a reduced-calorie diet without specific water instructions. Smart water bottles will track how much and when you drink, and urine and blood tests will check compliance and hydration. The team will measure weight change, perceptions of hunger and fullness, and appetite-related hormones over the intervention. Study visits will include sample collection, counseling on the reduced-calorie diet, and monitoring of water intake.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 50 years and older with overweight or obesity who are willing to follow a reduced-calorie diet and attend study visits.
Not a fit: People under 50, those who are not overweight, or individuals with serious fluid-balance conditions (for example advanced kidney disease or uncontrolled heart failure) may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a simple, low-cost way for older adults to reduce hunger and lose more weight when following a calorie-reduced diet.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier smaller trials showed that drinking 500 ml before meals reduced hunger and produced about 2 kg greater weight loss over 12 weeks in middle-aged and older adults, so this larger trial builds on promising preliminary results.
Where this research is happening
Blacksburg, United States
- Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ — Blacksburg, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davy, Brenda M — Virginia Polytechnic Inst and St Univ
- Study coordinator: Davy, Brenda M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.